District Hand Book United Mikir and North Cachar Hills

Abstract

The United Mikir and the North Cachar Hills District came into existence vide Government Notification No TAD/R31/50/204, dated, 3rd November, 1951 comprising some parts of Nowgaon, Sibsagar, Cachar and United Khasi and Jayantia Hills District. The district is bounded on the north by Nowgaon and Sibsagar district, on the south by Cachar district, on the east by Sibsagar district, Nagaland and Manipur and on the west by the United Khasi and Jayantia Hills. Here an attempt was made to give the detail information relating to socio-economic, political, cultural life of the various communities in the two hills district of Assam. Geographically it the biggest district of Assam. The total area of the district is 58883 square miles (15,273 kilometres). It comprises two Sub-divisions namely Mikir Hills and United North Cachar Hills. Diphu is the district head quarter of United Mikir Hills while Haflong is the head quarter of head quarter of the North Cachar Hills. Topographically, the district has a blend of hills and plains. Physically the whole district broadly is divided into three broad regions (a) the Mikir Hills, (b) the Kopili, Jamuna and Dhansiri and (c) the North Cachar Hills. As per geological survey report, the districts have a good quantity of mineral deposits like limestone, coal and porcelain clay. Due to the blend of hills plains of varying elevations the climatic condition also differ from place to place. Sufficient rainfall has helped tropical vegetation to grow abundantly throughout the hills and plains of the district. The United Mikir and the North Cachar Hills District is the abode of various tribal communities like the Mikirs, the Dimasa Kacharis, the Nagas, the Kukis, the Hmar, the Garos, the Khasi and the Jatyantias, Mizos etc. Shifting (Jhum and burn) cultivation is the main stay of the Mikirs of Mikir hills while plain dwellers practice plough cultivation in a limited manner. Similarly the Dimasa Kachari, the Zemi Naga and the Rengma Naga, the Kuki, the Hmar, the Garo, the Khasi and the Jayantias are the inhabitants of the North Cachar Hills. Dimasa Kacharis are the major tribal community of N C Hills. Cultivation of both Jhum and plough is the main occupation of the inhabitants of the North Cachar Hills.